Cabinet player



1,626,327 April 26' 1927' r. F. CHEEK I Filed Sept'. 20. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1,626,327 Apnl 26 1927 T. F. CHEEK GABI NET PLAYER Filed sept. 20, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NN a] 1 @Mmm/mmm Patented ihrer. 2E, 'l927 Lezen-i UNITED STATES lmifEll'f OFFICE.

TOLBERT F. CREEK, OF NEW YORK, N. ASSIGNGB, T0 WELTE-MIGNCN CORPORA- TION, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A C'PRGEATIGN OF NEVVKYORK.

CABINET PLAYER.

Application filed September This invention has reference to that type of record-controlled piano playing` mechanism (herein called cabinet piano players@ in which the player mechanism niounteifl within a casing which is torined separate 'troni the piano and is inovahle to the piano, whenthe letter is to he played under control of a record, and away troni the piano when the saine is to be played hy hand. In this type ol playing' ineifihanisin, there is a series of lingers or leversw-hereinafter called hey operating" lcvers7-one ttor each piano key which in the operation et the inechanisin protrude Ytroni the interior of the cehinet :ind operate the keys et the piano, respectively, under control ot e record; and the purpose et the present invention is to variously improve this type of playing` mechanism "with reference to these levers and adjunetive elements. Among the iinprovenients which this invention aires to eifiieet are (l) the complete Withdrawal oit the hey opereting levers into the confines ot the easing when they are not in use, Without requiring' any deepening' of the casing troni u trent to rear to acconnno-:lete then'i in their Withdrawn position; a more expeditious nioveiuent ot' the several hey ooeratingr levers troni and into their position. in which they protrude troni the casing for operation upon the piano keys; (il) adequate provision i ot' the lrey pieu-o heys without cr the adjustment ot t e 1` y it ooerating levers to that ot the upon which they are to operi se., ueceesitatiue any adliuetn'i t the casing; for inis purpose; (et) ready adiutinent oi the .hy operating' lei/'ers individually as necessary to bring about .a uniform ongegenient ot the saine With the piano lreys,

respectively Thesel and other purposesy of the inyention not necessary particularly to enumerate herein. tor the reason that they Will he ohvious to those familier with this tyne ot piano playing mech i ire securedfiiroin eiuplary and that `Without departing) trein .Y .invention as defined hy append 2G, 1923. Serial No. 663,829.

plu said drawings, wherein like characters or reterence denote like parts in the several views, Fig. l is a side view, partly in section on the line l-l of Fig; 3, of the forward part oit a grand piano, nd a like *iew ot a cahinet player in operative relation herewith, with a part ofan end Well et the easing` hrolen away to disclose certain parts of the slayer mechanism therein,

Fig. is a View oi a cabinet player similar to Fig, l., but with the key operating levers u'itl'iclre'wn into the casing` and the latter closed,

Fig. is a rear elevation olf a gert ot the cehinet open, with the key operating; levers in section,

Fig. e i a detail perspective vievr showing` tivo of tl e hey operatinglevers hrohen ofi et their outer ends and the adjacent part oi the (,:arrying end adjusting; rail therefor,

Fig. 5 is detail view, in ig peetive1 ol of the holding ineens for the ipper ends et the guide rods upon which the ends ot the carrying and adyustine` rail are mounted.

it designatesthe case of a cabinet player.

r)This cese may he of' any siitehle construction, uit es here ,shown it has a hat top e eneath which, in the upper portion et the ase, provision is inade for tlie trecler hor (l and the 'iced and rewind rolls ll, together with other parte not necessary herein to illustrate or describe, because Well known, usually located adfeeent said rolls for driving` the saine te thereby feed and rewind the nete sheet. yThe rear Wall of the case is provided with en openingr e, through which the outer ends et the several Lrey operating levers protrude when in position to operate unen the Qiauo 1Keys. This openingalso `sfiv access to 'ierious parte of the player inechaih n, as Will he seen. il door ied to close this opening` when ting levers in thei Withranged in rows and in a staggered relation`r the pnenmatics '153 ot one row respctively controlling the operations of the White keys ol the piano while the pneninatirs lo, ol the other' row respectively, control the operalion olf the black keys ot the piano. 'cillin illustrated nnenniatirs are ot lie ions 'torni and the movable board ot cicli has :i striker rod olf which those connected to the pneumatiz-s are marked l? and those connected to the nneninatics l@ are marl-ed la?. llhese rods are DivoialliY connec ed :it their lower ends to the movable l; sii-ils of tlie striker nneinnatics, respefi'tivelj;` ano ill oli them eX- end through openings in a lenii'ling member i) snitablhv supported in proper posit-ion iin the cabinet.

series or' key operating' levers 20 pivot- 'ed between their ends to have about horizontal aries QU are si at in the oneration oit' the niecl ai be on `ted nnder control ot mcninntics l5 to operate the white kevs oi' tipe nrano. tile inner mds ot' these levers 'hen in i e position i i il v J, i ends oi the arms li. respectivev. and their lier l `v'espectivelvz and a lne series or kejr or ein. ifi' levers olljv mounted to lieve movement, ri-

ontal aries il, i eneaeed bv the in aro whose onter end, oli the piano when thy :l: a, in operative nosi" n. are employed to operate the several lil-ci keys or' the piano under control of the pli-@nineties itl.

These lcev operatr are carried by a rail the preferred con.4 l which ev operating' levers hereinafter set forth. lis here shown they are pivotally attached to holding arms 2?) which depend Jirom :i membri' Q4- which eiective and quick and individnal removal or replacement ot the holding` arms ano ke;v operating` levers. The carrier member @el of the rail is mounted to have pivotal movement to Cerri,y the key operating` leversbodil.Y inward or outward with relation to the casing. the ii:- ward movement thereo'lI being; such as to position the several key operating` levers within the contines ot the casing, shown in Fig. 2, and the outward movementl thereol: being sneli as to position the key operatin'i levers in opera' ive relation with 'the several strike pnenniai-ics and willi the lpiano keys.

in this particular embodiment olf the invention tbc rail has end members 2b' in addition to llie nwinlier and these end members are ninlercnt, to lorin projections 2G to be eiifljajired by like projections 2l' vliicii extend "from the ends o' the members 'lll and underlie the ixiroiections 26 when the member Q-l in its raised position with the ke,Y operating levers in position tor ope ation niion the kers of a piano: and said member 2li is liinfedlv connected at its 'inw ner side, as indi ated :it in Fins. l and il, to the inner side ot the end neinb rs QG, the i. ttaclied to and eonnecting` the nroiections lil and i6 together. Thus if; ivi i be seen that tlie movement of the inem ber 2l is a sw nrejine' one relatiielj,T to the members "f3 and to the casing; and striker i i downward r inbelore referred to and that this rail extends across the inside or' the casing. suln santially om one end well to the other. Fyiiiitaljlle means.` slotted keeijiers attached lo the pieces LJ :ind bolts Q7 liingnid to the projections 26 from the member il l adapted to enter tlie slots ssiio ke l tobe relensrfi rnredto t l:

nuts 3th for example hold the member :2l releasabljf in irs r-i position with the kev operating; leve operative relation with the strike pneninz Y.

and in their position Vtor nec niion :i igiainr it will be observed that the described construction ot rail forms a simple and practical means by which the pover ot the strike pnenmatics is transmitted. directly to the rear ends ol key operating' levers by the striker rods l and l5, re-

spectivelv7 and which kej7 operating levers moved nintarilv i l i the member oit' the rail rind bodilT in he ini-:ord and njn, ill@ ward and outward and downward tiii'ec- L. rions rcinboifore rciifrreil to. ln other ill be noted tha-U tlie ke'v operate not Ai'irnied ot seperate ineinlljf connected to each other, so er members can lie svrnng ilowir nward or ui' i" und outward the other men' bers; and in wl' ich applied to the the contrariv each formed oi" :i single i i if:

key operating lever l meml'ier. rhe adven'zig'es oi the referred to inward end downward and upward and outward movements, in the positioning oi? said levers' entirely Within ille casing and in the positioningot the saine tor operation upon the pieno keys reslkiectively` thus are obtained by' a niost simple :1nd el'iicient means is compared with those constructions in which the key ope `ating' levers are divided.

Moreover, the described construction of rail and correlation of key operating levers therewith has turther advantages in that it permits of unitary adjustment ot the height ot the rail and key operating; levers and of unitary movement ot' Said rail and key operating levers inward and outward by the simple, easily operated and elfective ineans now to be described.

3i designates vertical rods which are arranged within the casing' near the opposite Walls tl'iereot and extend through openings in the rail. members The rail is slid- ;ihly mounted upon these rods and hence may he 'raised or lowered thereon to thereby adjust the height ot the key opeating levers to a proper level with relation to that of the piano keys. lt is held in its adjusted position upon the .rods by suitably fastening elements, indicated at 3i. A 'further edjust nient ot the levei ot the hey operating levers,

provided for through the inediuin of regulating screws 32 which are mounted in the inner ends of the respective hey operating levers end are provided with buttons 32 to engage heads 32 on the upper ends ot ther orresiuuiding srins 1T "ir i8 oi" the striker pneunintics. These reguiating' screws ure accessible through the openings a. in the "abinet, but to render them41 as Well as the rail. niore accessible for the purposes oit e iiustnrentt und eiso to facilitate the operation ot .mountingv the rail `viti the severai .tiev

operirting levers thereon upon the ro end their removal irorn the cabinet. sa d rods are ifivotally mounted so that Ihoy inev he swung outward troni one end to either "ring the rail :ind key operating; lever closer to or entirely through the opening As here showin the lower fthe tubinet. ends ot the rods are provided with hearings 33 upon shafts 33 suitably supported oy the end Walls ot the cabinet. Suitable provision tor holding there in position Wi tin cabinet and ior releasingtheni for their nviuginjg inoven'ient is .mede in this eieniplil'iczition oi? the invention by nieane of collars or heads 34; having lateral Wings 359 slid- :zhly mounted in guides 36 attached to the Y s it "the cabinet in position t- Y upper ends o? the rot respecti :ing these collars or t# heir guides the opp' foils 3l are rclessefl und said be permitted to be moved, or to more, otziliv forward about their aXes in the collars or heads Sie whereupon the latter Will drop or may be drtngpet into holding position upon seid rods.

lt will be apparent thru'. invention provides means o? simple und pre cal nature whereby the height ot the several key operating' ily he nd'iusted in accord with 'the height or c. upon which ie'vers are to ope f this :adjustment of :iii et the i quickly etiected at once merely i, the iiastening; elements tl 'sing or lo veringy the reil iiforine-'l or here 24 and JS, and securineposition by tightenin t elements. "twill also he two ends ot the rail ure abley it nece sary to bring i levers into e suhstantially -io corresponding' with that of tr Further, it vvill be noted that the ley operating levers may be leveled individually to compensate for any imperfect alignment of the piano leys or ot the ievers. by ndividual i adjustment ot the regulating sc 'evvs i532; and inaily it vvill he noted that. i.. en the cebinet is not in operative relation with the piano the .hey operating; levers may occupiv ai vertical. jo "ion within the confines ot p sit ont the door o may be closed, f' progections nl LA. i.

ine hitter io the case thereby evening any unsi sine; und ziloi Ik' l `I L 1th a noli oi he casini;

uit i to sleclien the nuts uti tiese parte forni no 13 against p1.1 ..1 111011211191115.

1110 11111;'@1 comprising 1 openng, 11 11111 311111611 and formed of comple- 130 10115111313* 9. "1 Cabinet casing' having i011 Within the cas L 'L @ne 111 secure *.119 swing?. 11e rau 111 one pos1t sw the m11. 'o

leasably to t o GD member 1'@ meutary members one of which is mounted to have swinging' movement relatively 'to the remainder oil. the rail, a seriesI ot' key operating; levers pivotrr" co ,wird i :winning member and mov: blo with the suine between their stored alivio positions. and menus upon whicl rail as a whole is adjustable p to variably regulate the he' 1 operating' levers to accord keys.

10. r cabinet piano player comprising a casing having` an opening, a rail mounted within the casing and 'formed of compl-ementary members one ot which is mounted to have swinging' inoven'ient relatively to the remainder ot the rail. a series ot key operating' levers pivotally connected to said swinging member and movable unitarily with the same between their C`tored and operative positions, and means upon which the rail as a whole is adjustable up and down to variably regulate the height ol the key operating; levers to accord with that ot the keys, said means being` piv "l l y mounted to be operative to .Swing` the rail and the key operatingy levers outward relatively 'to the opening' in the casing.

11. A cabinet piano player connyrising` a casing having; an opening', key operating;` levers, a rail mounted within the casingv and having a swingable member to which the key operating levers arc pivoted, a rail supporting' means upon which the rail is adjustably mounted, and means to secure the rail in adjusted position to the rail supporting means.

12. A cabinet piano player comprising` a casing having' an opening, key operating levers, a rail mounted within the casingand having a swinn'able member to which the key operatingv levers are pivoted, substantially vertical rods upon which the rail is adjustably mounted, and separate means to iix the respective ends oi the rail in adjusted position to said rods.

13. A cabinet piano player comprising: a casing having an opening, key operating levers, a rail mounted within. the casing and having a swingable member to which the key operating` levers are pivoted, a pivotally mounted support for the rail, and rleleasable f means to engage the support and hold it in one ot its positions.

14. A cabinet piano player comprising` a casing having an opening, key operating levers, a rail mounted within the casing and having a swingable member to which the key operating levers are pivoted, a pivotally mount-ed suiiiportingy rod connected to the rail, and means including;- an element engageable with the rod and slidable relatively thereto to hold the rod releasably against pivotal movement.

15. A. cabinet piano player comprising a casing1 having an opening, key operating levers, a rail mounted within the casing and having a swingiablo men'iber to which the key operating levers are pivote/i, pivotaliy mounted suppo. rods opor which the ends olf the rail are adjuscably mounted, respectively, means to secure the rail adjustably along the length ol: the rods, and means includinp` elements enoagea le with the rods and releasable thererom, to hold the rods against pivotal movement.

16. A cabinet piano player, comprisingv a casing' having an opening, striker ppeumatics, a series oit key operatin` levers to be operated by the striker pneuniatics, respectively, a rail to which the key levers are connected, pivotally mounted means by which the rail is supported to be swingable relatively 'to the openingv in the casing, and a head slidable relatively to the pivotally mounted means to hold the same releasably in position within the casing.

11i'. A cabinet piano player, comprisingv a casino,` having` an opening, striker pneumatics, a series olf key operating levers to be operated by the striker pneumatics, respectively, a rail to which the keyoperating levers are connected, supporting rods tor opposite ends oli the rail, each rod having a pivotal mounting` at one end, and releasable holding;` moans t'or the other ends ot the rods, respectively, each of said means coinprising a ned guide and an lclement having' an opening to receive the adjacent end or the correspouding` rod and win 's to engage the fixed guide.

18. A cabinet piano player, comprising` a casing` having,` an opening, striker pneumatics, a oit' key operatinglevers to be operated l y the striker pneumatics, a rail to which the key operating levers are connected, supporting` means for the rail and upon which the rail is vertically adjustable, a pivotal mounting; :tor the rail supporting means, and releasable means operative to hold the rail-supportingiv means in position to support the rail within the easing.

19. A cabinet piano player, comprising` a easing having` an opening, striker pneumatics, a series of key operating levers to be operated by the striker pneumatics, respectively, a rail having a pivotally mounted member to which the key operating,y levers are pivotally connected, means to secure the pivotally mounted member against accidental pivotal movement relatively to the rail, a rail. supporting` and ,guiding means upon which the rail is adjustable relatively to the casing' to dillerent selected heights, a pivotal mounting for the rail supportingr and vguiding means, and releasable means to hold the rail supporting; and guiding means 1n position.

20. A cabinet piano player, comprising a casing having an opening, striker pneumatics, a series of key operating levers to be operated by the striker pneumatics, respectively, regulating connections between the key operating` levers and striker pneumatics, respectively, a rail having a pivotally mounted member to which the key operating levers are pivotally Connected, means to secure the pivotally mounted member against accidental pivotal movement, relatively to the rail` a rail supporting and ,Guiding means upon which the rail is adjustable relatively to the casing` to different selected heights, a pivotal mounting' for the rail supporting and guiding means, and releasahle means to hold the rail supporting and guiding means in position.

2l. In a cabinet piano player, the combination with a plurality of series ot striker pneumatics, and corresponding series of key operating levers to be operated by the striker pneumatics, respectively, of a carrying member for the key operating levers having a plurality of longitudinal heads in diHerent horizontal planes, elements to the lower ends of Wirich the key operating; levers olf one. series are pivoted between their ends, said elements havingv in their upper portions reA Cesses to receive one of said heads. and elements having` recesses in their upper portion to receive the other head and to which the lower ends ot the. key operating: levers; of the other series are pivoted hetu'een their ends.

In testimony whereof l aiix my signature.

TOLBERT F. CHEEK. 

